Food is a product category most likely to exhibit cultural sensitivity. Using Heinz ketchup as an example, discuss how the company has used its advertising taking into account cultural sensitivities in different parts of the world

What will be an ideal response?

Marketers of food and food products have to consider cultural sensitivities in different parts of the world since food preferences vary from country to country. Localization of the advertising is highly preferable in the case of food and food product advertising. A good example is the effort by H.J. Heinz Company to advertise its ketchup products in different markets. Heinz's strategy involved adapting both the product and advertising to target country tastes. For example, in Greece, ads show ketchup pouring over pasta, eggs, and cuts of meat. In Japan, they instruct Japanese homemakers on using ketchup as an ingredient in Western-style food such as omelettes, sausages, and pasta. Americans like a sweet ketchup, whereas Europeans prefer a spicier, more piquant variety. Apparently, Heinz's foreign marketing efforts are most successful when the company quickly adapts to local cultural preferences. In Sweden, the made-in-America theme is so muted in Heinz's ads that Swedes do not realize that Heinz is American and consider it to be German because of its name. In contrast, American themes still work well in Germany.